Russian telecom authorities temporarily blacklist Facebook

Facebook was added to Russia’s internet blacklist after content on one of the social network’s pages was deemed to be illegal. The popular site was given three days to delete the content or face a complete nationwide ban.

The Russian Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of
Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications
(Roskomnadzor) added the social networking site to the blacklist
on Thursday.

The federal service did not specify which content violated its
policies, but said it had received 10 complaints against the
site. Details of the individual complaints have not been
disclosed.

"Three applications have been examined, including those not
related to advertising of smoking blends. Facebook has eliminated
the violations under two inquiries, and the third has been
included to the register. We have already sent a notification to
the hosting providers. Facebook has three days to remove the
violation, and avoid a ban in Russia," Roskomnadzor spokesman
Vladimir Pikov told ITAR-TASS news agency.

Facebook removed the content later on Thursday. According to
media reports, however, the site was never informed that it was
facing a ban.

Roskomnadzor acknowledged that Facebook complied with the
service’s requirements, adding that the social network would be
removed from the register of controversial websites.

On Monday, an advertisement promoting the sale of smoking blends
on the site sparked a lively discussion among Facebook users,
with many suggesting that such ads are illegal.

The advertisement also caused a stir in Russia’s Federation
Council. The head of the Committee on Information Policy, Ruslan
Gatarov, said that he appealed to the Federal Drug Control
Service to take action against the promotion of drugs and tobacco
online.

“We need to do everything so a situation like this does not
happen again. I believe this is a clear violation of Russian law,
with all the relevant consequences,” Gatarov said.

Russia’s internet blacklist law, which is aimed at protecting
children from harmful web content, came into effect in November
2012.

The law enables authorities to force certain web pages offline,
even before a trial takes place. This applies to internet sites
which contain child pornography, suicide instructions, or promote
the use of drugs. In other cases, the decision is to be taken to
court.